After lunch each day we give our two dogs a small treat. Just a small dog cookie each.
It’s not much, but it makes their day. They look forward to their cookie at the first sign that lunch time is approaching.
Afterwards, they get into some serious playacting, trying to persuade us that we had, in fact, forgotten to give them their cookie five minutes before. One time in a hundred this actually works. I can only imagine the level of satisfaction this gives them. Two cookies, and fooling the man, both on the same day.
The point is, it doesn’t take much to make their day.
And I think the same is true for us.
A small treat can turn an OK day into a great day. Or a rough day into an OK day.
For example, I’m a bit of a coffee freak. I like coffee, and drink it every day. But in the past, if I wanted to really treat myself, I would go out and buy myself a latte.
Then, three or four years ago, I decided to buy an espresso machine. Not one of those fully-automatic things, but the real deal.
Now, almost every morning, at about 11:00 – by which time I feel I deserve a treat – I make two lattes, one for myself and one for my girlfriend.
It’s a treat not only because I love the taste, but also because it takes me a few minutes to make it, and that gives me a breather from my desk.
Now for a completely different type of treat.
When I’m on the phone, I like to walk around. But sometimes, particularly when calling overseas, I use Skype, and my headset is plugged into my computer. So I have to stay at my desk.
Finally, last week, I went out and bought myself a wireless headset. It cost about three times the price of the one I had, but I treated myself. And I love it.
So here is the thing about treating yourself.
It’s about more than the pleasure of drinking that latte, or unpacking the new headset.
It’s a way of recognizing your worth. It’s a way of saying, “I work hard and, from time to time, I deserve a treat.”
As freelancers we don’t have colleagues or managers who can walk by and say, “Great job!”
When it comes to validating our talent, our work, and our worth, we often have to pat ourselves on the back.
And a great way to do that it to treat yourself from time to time.
You deserve it. Really.
About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…